Bridgeport Firefighters Deliver Second Check for Burn Center Campaign

Bridgeport Firefighters Local 834 has presented another check to the Bridgeport Hospital Foundation to support renovations and maintenance of the new family hospitality suite in the Connecticut Burn Center. The latest check, representing more than $40,000 in proceeds from a March 23 fundraising dinner at Vazzano’s Four Seasons in Stratford, brings to $68,000 the total support for the Center provided by the Bridgeport Firefighters in the last two years.

“Raising $68,000 in two just years is extraordinary,” Bridgeport Hospital Foundation President Steve Jakab told the Bridgeport firefighters at the June 12 check presentation in the hospital. “On behalf of our patients, their families and our staff, we thank you.”

“As the host department of the Burn Center, we felt obligated to play a leadership role in the fundraising campaign,” said Fire Lt. Salvatore Emanuel, who co-chaired the March event with his wife Melissa, a Burn Center nurse, and Pumper Engineer Zoltan Szabo.

More than 450 people attended the March 23 fundraiser, and proceeds from the event helped the Burn Center campaign top the $1 million mark, which is more than two-thirds of the $1.5 million campaign goal. Firefighters from across Connecticut pledged $150,000 to the campaign, an amount that was surpassed with the March fundraiser. The campaign has also received major support from the United Illuminating Company, Northeast Utilities and Newman’s Own.

The yearlong Burn Center renovation project began in the fall of 2011 and was completed in September 2012. In addition to the new family suite, highlights of the work included the addition of a new dedicated patient elevator connecting the Burn Center directly to the Main Operating Room Suite, upgrades to patient rooms and treatment areas, expansion of the nursing station and staff work area, and installation of new main entrance.

The Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital is the only dedicated burn care facility in the state. It provides care to nearly 200 inpatients and 800 outpatients from around Connecticut and neighboring states each year.